Presidential aspirant Grace Poe. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA
A day after getting reprieve from the Supreme Court on the disqualification suits against her, Sen. Grace Poe on Tuesday slammed the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for supposedly insinuating that she was a liar.
“Pinaka ayoko sa lahat ‘yung sinasabing sinungaling ako,” Poe said in a press briefing, alluding to the decision of the poll body to cancel her certificate of candidacy for president over citizenship and residency issues.
(What I don’t like most is calling me a liar.)
READ: Comelec majority: Poe deliberately attempted to mislead voters
The Comelec en banc affirmed previous ruling of its first and second divisions to disqualify Poe from the presidential derby, saying that the lady senator deliberately attempted to mislead the electorate in the entries in her COC.
Poe said the Comelec did not even take a look at the evidence that her camp presented, noting that she herself can go personally to the commissioners to prove that she was not lying.
Poe also maintained that she was still a candidate for President in next year’s polls, saying she was encouraged by the high court’s issuance of temporary restraining orders against the Comelec rulings.
READ: High court issues TROs on Poe’s disqualification
“Inaamin ko po na ang desisyon ng Comelec ay nagdulot sa amin ng kalungkutan, lalo na ito’y lumabas ilang araw lang bago ang Pasko. Ngunit pinanumbalik po ng Korte Suprema ang ating pag-asa na siyang tunay na kahulugan ng Kapaskuhan,” Poe said, thanking SC justices led by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno for the TROs.
(I admit the decision of the Comelec has brought us sadness, especially when it came out a few days before Christmas. But the Supreme Court brought us hope, which is the true meaning of Christmas.)
“Maraming salamat din po sa ating mga kababayan na hindi natinag ang suporta sa kabila ng kalituhang hinahasik ng iba. Hindi pa po tapos ang laban… Kandidato pa rin po ako. Ang ating pangalan ay hindi po tatanggalin,” she added.
(Many thanks to our fellow citizens who didn’t waver their support despite the confusion that the others have been spreading. The fight is not yet over. I am still a candidate. Our name won’t be removed.)
READ: Poe thanks SC for ‘just, compassionate’ TROs on disqualification
Poe said she was confident that she would win her case before the Supreme Court, but reiterated her hope that the three justices who voted against her in the Senate Electoral Tribunal would inhibit.
“Tinuruan po ako ng tatay ko na manalig na ang katotohanan ay laging iiral sa huli. Tinuruan din niya akong magtiwala sa batas dahil, sabi niya, kung walang batas, walang puedeng panghawakan ang maliliit at walang kapangyarihan,” Poe said.
(My father taught me to have faith that the truth will prevail in the end. He also taught me to have faith in the law because, he said, if there’s no law, the powerless and those who have little in life have nothing to hold on to.)
“Aasahan ko po ang inyong patuloy na tulong sa pagpapanday ng maunlad at inklusibong kinabukasan. Harapin po natin ang Bagong Taon na may bagong lakas at paniniwala na ang katotohanan at tinig ng bayan ang mananaig,” she added.
(I expect your continuous support for a progressive future. Let us face the New Year with newfound energy and belief that the truth and the voice of the people will prevail.) TVJ
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